Leaving Gabrielle behind today was the hardest thing I’d had to do in a very long time. Leaving her alone, naked and vulnerable as I tried to protect us both from the darkness that tormented my life regularly and now probably hers by association. It was all so tremendously fucked up. Sometimes I just grew weary of wondering what great sin I’d done in my life to make it turn on me this way. The Rothvale curse perhaps?

It was wrong to involve Gabrielle in my problems, but I feared it was too late for that. She was already involved now and my fearing it wouldn’t change anything. The minute I’d put her in my plane and brought her into my home she’d become entangled. If she wanted to stick around with me was the question now—and one only she could answer.

Now I’d have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out. Which didn’t sit well with me at all in my present state of mind. I wanted to know now. Patience can be a raging beast to master. After turning off the water, I just stood there and looked down, letting the water drip off me for a moment. Maybe hoping the chill of the night air on wet skin would temper my need to see her safe in her bed. Just to calm my racing thoughts, which were bloody out of control considering she was just a few doors and a room away from me right now…

Eventually I stepped out and snatched a towel from the heated rack and dried off. I then stalked into my closet and dug around for a while until I found what I was searching for. Another one of those silk robes. What had Gabrielle called it? A smoking jacket. Fancy robes rich men used to wear for lounging and smoking. Well, rich was correct, but I’d never smoked anything in my life, and I wasn’t going to start. That shit kills. And I didn’t need any more help in the killing department. There were some people who’d probably love for me to be dead.

I drew it on and had to admit the cool silk did feel nice against my skin. This smoking jacket wasn’t sea blue like the one I’d given to Gabrielle though. It was black and gold and it must have belonged to my uncle? I don’t think he ever used it though, because it didn’t give the impression of clothing that had been worn. Had Finnegan put it in my closet in the last year or so? It was all just here after the renovations were done to my bedroom. I really had no idea whatsoever where most of the crap in this house came from.

You’re rarely here, that’s why, you daft idiot.

But I was going to be here a great deal more now. Because Gabrielle would be here. And I wanted to be wherever she was going to be. That was fact. For me, my decision had been made about her the minute she appeared on the railway platform at Taunton Station like a vision from my favorite dream. Fate had given me a third chance with the woman who’d captivated me from the first moment I’d laid eyes on her. And I was done with letting her get away anymore. Because I had plans to win her heart and make her mine. Everyone needs personal goals and Gabrielle was number one on my list.